Las Vegas had always been big, bright and full of sin. And it had only gotten worse over the decades. Never had Kyle woken here with any feeling other than instant, overwhelming loathing. But right now, anywhere - even this overcrowded, gaudy pit of depravity - was better than Hell.
Word was getting out that Ryka was who he was, and there was no end to the resulting interruptions. Friends were curious, enemies wanted proof, and then there were those who owed favors, or were owed favors. Even in Judas’s hand-me-down palace - far more secure than their previous room in the aerie - there was no escaping. Which meant that for once, Kyle was almost happy to be here.
“It gets uglier every time,” Ryka remarked, echoing Kyle’s unspoken sentiment as he moved to stand next to him at the window. The proximity was elating. No matter how much he assured his other half he wasn’t worried about Ryka’s new status or his ability to destroy souls, Ryka had still been distant. Or rather, frustratingly close; never out of sight, but never near enough to touch. And it felt like eons since Ryka had actually approached him, and not skirted around him, maintaining what he likely presumed was a safe perimeter. But what felt to Kyle like a yawning chasm.
Kyle had been hopeful the change of scenery would help Ryka relax, and it already seemed to be working. Trying to keep his cool, while creeping millimeters closer, he remarked. “But we’ll stay well-fed.” Already, he could smell the sin, wafting up from the Strip below. Considering they had no idea how long they’d be holing up here, it was good to know they wouldn’t go hungry.
It wasn’t human misery he was starved for, though. Taking a chance, he said, “I miss you.”
“Miss me? I’m right here.”
“Now.”
At that, Ryka’s face fell. “I’m sorry, stud.”
“I’ve told you: nothing’s different between us. I just want things to go back to normal.”
“When were they ever normal?” Ryka teased, fire stoking in his gaze. Kyle thrilled to see it, to hear how much like himself his other half sounded.
“Fair point. But you know what I mean.” Now seemed like the right time to make his move. “We had fun here last time.”
“You mean Dove’s place?” It was nearly more a statement than a question, and a low purr started in Kyle’s chest, to be quickly echoed in Ryka’s.
“Mmhmm.” Kyle turned to press himself against Ryka, eager to feel that deep rumbling. To his astonishment - and relief - Ryka didn’t pull away. Meaning they shared the sensation of Kyle’s galloping heartbeat.
“That was fun.” There it was, the sly smirk Kyle loved so much. And a hungry gaze to match. The neon lights glaring up from below certainly didn’t outshine the fire in Ryka’s eyes. Or the lust burning in Kyle’s.
“Is that what you need?” It had occurred to Kyle that, given Ryka’s new rank as second-in-command of Hell, maybe what he wanted was someone to take control for a little while.
For a moment, Ryka looked taken aback. But he nodded. “Tonight?”
Kyle considered for a moment dragging Ryka out to “Lust.” But he didn’t think he’d be able to hold out even that long. “We’ll make do with what’s here. Is that okay?”
Teeth bared in a lascivious grin, Ryka answered, “Yes, Master.”
***
The door buzzer woke Kyle late the next morning. He shook Ryka, who grumbled and buried himself deeper in the sheets. Well, what was left of them. They had done their job - ripped into gags, blindfolds and bonds - and the remaining shreds were tangled in his wings, but Ryka still made the unconscious effort.
The buzzer sounded again. With a heavy sigh, Kyle got up, stretched, and grabbed a strip of torn bedsheet to wrap around his waist. It was a familiar presence he sensed in the hall, and before going through the effort of trying to hide his wings, he decided to check his hunch on the screen next to the door. His guess was confirmed.
Grinning, he opened the door. “Miranda!”
“I was hoping it would be you!” Somehow, her smile was more radiant than he remembered.
Maybe because he thought he’d never be happy to see another Satanist again. The last batch of idiots had made him forget what Lucifer’s real followers were like. No tacky black robes, no obscene sins. It was all business casual and law abiding with this crowd. “It’s good to see you.”
“We’re glad you’re back. You said it might be a long time, but here you are!”
“Here we are.”
If Miranda caught his sudden discomfort at being reminded that yes, they were back, and much too soon, she kindly ignored it. “Oh, and this is Nina, one of our youth group leaders.” She gently ushered the young woman standing next to her forward.
Nina looked young - college-age maybe - and very much in disbelief of what she was seeing. Even with her caramel complexion, Kyle could see blood draining from her face. And smell her fear. But even with eyes wide and unblinking, Nina managed a mumbled greeting. “Nice to meet you.”
“Hi, Nina. I’m Kyle. Ryka’s still sleeping, but probably not much longer, I’m sure.” Even as he spoke, Kyle could hear his partner stirring awake from down the hall.
Jaw hanging open, Nina waved mechanically, the extent of her polite conversation given the circumstances. “She’ll get used to it, I promise. I presume you need clothes?” Miranda asked, eyeing the scrap of fabric Kyle was currently wearing. Kyle nodded, and Miranda grabbed a bag from Nina and offered it to him. “I was going to have it sent up, but I just had to see if it was you two. I’m so sorry if I interrupted.”
“No, it’s good to see you. And we were just napping.”
“What brings you two here this time? Anything we can help with?”
“We’re actually just taking a break. It turns out Ryka was wrong; there is time off in Hell.”
“Well, I’m glad you’re vacationing in Vegas. Shit, I sound like someone from the tourist board.”
Kyle chuckled. “You might still be able to help, though.” He glanced over his shoulder, but it sounded like Ryka wasn’t quite up and functional yet. “Is Dove still running ‘Lust?’”
“He is! Do you plan on visiting?”
“I’d like to. Could you let him know we’re in town?” Though Kyle suspected the incubus might already be well aware. Ryka’s wasn’t exactly a subtle presence, not anymore.
And he could both hear and feel him approaching now. Kyle looked over his shoulder to see Ryka emerge from the hall extending from the master suite. He yawned tremendously as he stretched, tearing the shreds of fabric still caught in his wings. Unlike Kyle, he hadn’t bothered to cover himself with anything. Kyle had wanted to warn him there were guests, but supposed Ryka - ever the exhibitionist - wouldn’t have cared.
“Tell me again why Hell’s such a bad place?” Miranda asked, studying Ryka like he was a fine piece of sculpture. Nina’s eyes had somehow gone wider, and color was rapidly returning to her cheeks.
“Bad place for you. Lots of fun for me. You wouldn’t get to enjoy that,” Kyle told her, also appreciatively eyeing Ryka. “Ry, we have company.”
His last vestiges of slumber vanished when he spotted their guests. “Still here, hmm?” A blunt inquiry, but he sounded pleased to see Miranda. A fact confirmed when, just as he had on their first meeting, he grabbed her hand and it brought it to his lips to plant a kiss on her knuckles.
“I am. Head of our church, now.”
“High Priestess, then?”
“That’s right. And this is Nina, one of our youth group leaders.”
Kyle stifled a laugh as he caught the exact moment Miranda’s poor protege became so overwhelmed by what she was seeing that her brain simply gave up, leaving her standing at her superior’s side a slack-jawed, blank-stared zombie. Miranda didn’t notice, too intent on playing her part as a good hostess.
“She’s going to be helping me with anything you two need while you’re here. But we’ll let you get on with your day. You know how to reach us, right?”
Kyle nodded, and their guests departed. Next to him, Ryka watched them go, head cocked. “You look like you have an idea, and I don’t know whether that’s good or bad.”
But being away from home was already doing wonders for Ryka’s mood. “Maybe we should throw a party.”
***
Dinner out had been Ryka’s idea. “To make up for being such a dick lately,” he’d said, as though Kyle had needed any real convincing. As though he hadn’t done plenty to make up for it the night before.
“You haven’t been a dick. Just distant.”
“Even worse.” He wasn’t now, though, his feet resting on Kyle’s under their corner table. It took significant effort to keep his tail firmly pressed against his own leg and not coiled around Ryka’s. But they had appearances to keep up.
For most of the guests at least. They had just placed their order when Nina, the girl who had been with Miranda earlier, was seated nearby with a man Kyle could only assume was her partner. And a new one at that, at least judging by the shy smiles and giddy laughter on Nina’s part, and the anxious bouncing of the man’s leg under the table.
“Who’s that?” Ryka inquired, the question falling mostly into his wine. But his gaze was fixed firmly on Nina’s friend.
Kyle shrugged. “I don’t know. But you’re looking at him like he’s a piece of meat.”
“No. Jinx would look at him like he’s a piece of meat. I’m looking at him like I want to wreck his ass.”
Glad he hadn’t taken a sip of his own beverage yet, Kyle instead scowled over the rim of the glass. “You’d wreck more than that.”
“He looks pretty sturdy.” Nina’s date was solidly built. Maybe it wasn’t all muscle, not on the surface, but when he lifted a glass of water and the sleeves of his button-down tightened around his bicep, Kyle could see the appeal.
“You’d still break him.”
“Then I suppose I’ll have to find an alternative.”
“You might want to rephrase that if you actually want a chance.” He kept his tone flat, but couldn’t stop the corners of his lips curling up. Not when Ryka’s most charming smile was aimed in his direction.
Kyle envisioned the flirty banter taking them all the way through dinner. But it wasn’t meant to be. Their meals had only just been set in front of them when Ryka cleared his throat. Kyle looked up from his food, but Ryka wouldn’t meet his eyes. His suspicions of bad news were quickly confirmed. “I’ve got a quick job tomorrow morning.”
Even though he knew he was overreacting, Kyle still couldn’t stop himself. Seething, he surged to his feet, chair toppling over behind him. “You have what?” Instantly, all eyes were on him. The few that weren’t turned away with a scathing scowl were easily nudged aside through other means.
“Just a few hours, I promise.” Cowed, Ryka reached for his hands.
Kyle considered not letting himself be caught. “This is supposed to be a break. What else could he possibly want from you?” It wasn’t so much that he was mad at Ryka, it’s that he was mad on his behalf. Why did Lord Satan need him now? Could they have not one fucking day without an interruption?
“We’ll have plenty of time for vacation. Really.” Feeling a little ashamed about his tantrum, Kyle reached behind himself with his free hand and righted his chair. And just in time. “I’m really sorry. I love you, Kyle.”
Nothing weakened his knees faster. He collapsed onto his seat, frustration already an afterthought. “Love you, too.”
Without further mention of work, dinner passed pleasantly enough. Since it was on Hell’s tab, they splurged on dessert and another bottle of wine. When plates and bottles sat empty between them, Ryka leaned forward, resting his elbows on the table. “Shall we?” There was an invitation in Ryka’s question that Kyle was eager to accept.
Surely Ryka knew that, but on their way out, he still stopped by Nina and her date’s table. Never once to mince words, he opened with, “Who’s this?” while leering at the unknown party.
It must have been in that moment that he finally saw them for what they were, because his jaw fell open. Nina, now at least somewhat accustomed to the demons’ presence, was left to answer for him. “This is Eli.” When that somehow didn’t seem to be enough information to satisfy Ryka’s curiosity, Nina offered, “My boyfriend. We’re on our second date.” It was a subtle nudge he’d used to get information from her, and it was likely Nina would never even realize she’d hadn’t volunteered the information on her own.
“Hmm.” Kyle braced himself, fully prepared to have to clap a hand over Ryka’s mouth to stop whatever vulgar thing he was about to say. But instead of some crude pick-up line, he told the new couple, “Dinner’s on us.”
“No, we couldn’t-”
“But you will.” If Ryka’s tone was meant to be light and teasing, he nearly succeeded. But there was something sinister in his voice, too, and Nina rubbed her arms to smooth down goosebumps. Still less obvious than Eli’s alarmed squeak.
He recovered enough to stammer out a meek, “Th-thank you.” Ryka waved him off as he started for the exit.
Kyle watched him go, shaking his head. “Can you let Miranda know I’ll be by tomorrow?”
“Of course.”
***
When Kyle had first begun his new life, Ryka had promised to never lie, even though he no longer had their contract to bind him to honesty. And maybe he hadn’t technically broken his promise, but all these omissions and dances around the truth were beginning to wear on Kyle.
Really, he understood why Ryka hadn’t wanted to talk about what had happened with the demon whose soul he had destroyed. Especially given that he’d been convinced Kyle would want to leave him after learning the truth.
So that Kyle could forgive. But now Ryka was evading questions about what errand he suddenly had to run. On what was supposed to be a break. “It’s a quick check-in with a Reaper,” Ryka had finally admitted. It didn’t sound like a lie, but it did sound like there was something being left unsaid.
But since Ryka was apparently on a tight schedule, Kyle didn’t have time to pursue the topic. Ryka had assured him it would be a quick errand, and Kyle didn’t need to tag along. “Maybe,” Ryka had suggested, purring low, “we could meet at Dove’s?”
Sucker that he was, Kyle had agreed.
Which is how he found himself in Nina’s company, strolling from the Temple to “Lust.” A visit to the Temple had sounded like a good way to eat up some time. But he had just missed Miranda, who was out on her own errand, and since Nina said she had a gift to deliver to Dove, Kyle had invited her for the walk over.
Not considering that they had just met, and that he was an immortal. One with a reputation, too, at least based on Nina’s anxious glances. No doubt she had been warned that he and Ryka were dangerous - they had tried not to downplay the fact on their last visit. But it made it hard to converse when one party seemed inclined to worry the other was on the hunt for souls.
But Kyle was only seeking out a safe topic for discussion. Most people liked talking about themselves - at least the teenagers he’d known had - so he took that tack. “You said that was your second date last night?”
“Um, yeah. Thank you again for paying.”
“You’re welcome.” Since he still had no idea who was actually footing the bill, he decided there was no harm in taking credit. “His name is Eli, right?” When he offered an encouraging smile, he kept his mouth closed. He was disguising himself for other eyes, but Nina knew what he was - that trick wouldn’t work on her. She was at least marginally less tense than a moment earlier, no need to remind her he had a carnivore’s deadly grin. “Did you meet through the Temple?”
“Yeah. He joined a year after me, but we started working in youth group at the same time.” Color flooded her cheeks, and she was chewing on her bottom lip to stop from smiling too broadly.
“It’s going well?”
There was no hiding her joy now. Beaming, she replied, “We’re meeting up again tonight.”
“Congratulations.”
“Thanks.”
His own genuine curiosity drove him to inquire, “So, what exactly do you do in youth group?”
Looking pleased to be asked, Nina explained as they walked, her passion for her role evident. But she froze mid-sentence when they passed by a shop broadcasting national news. He followed her gaze and was met with the sight of a familiar pile of smoldering rubble. He and Ryka hadn’t been gone long enough to avoid the fallout from their last foray to Purgatory.
Now they were both faced with Images of the smoking crater where once had stood the cultist temple, and the accompanying gruesome descriptions of the remains that had been discovered therein. Bodies with missing limbs, and bones found with teeth marks not attributable to any type of local wildlife. Speculation was still rampant, it seemed. Fixated on the story, Nina jumped when Kyle moved to step into her line of sight.
“Those weren’t good people,” he told her. “Not like your group.”
In a small voice, Nina asked, “You did that?”
Shit. Things had been going well, and now terror was wafting off of her, enticing him to wring her for more. But he controlled himself, and sighed, resigned. “Well, sort of.” Ryka had done most of the damage, but she didn’t need to know that.
“What did they do?”
“Lured in the weak to use them as sacrifices.” Her mouth made an “o,” but she seemed otherwise unable to respond. Which meant it was up to Kyle to steer the conversation elsewhere. It wasn’t going to be an easy transition, and he struggled with what to say. Long enough that his shadow felt the need to intervene.
This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.
Nina stifled a shriek when Kyle’s shadow raced out ahead of him, ember-red eyes streaking cinders along the sidewalk. It grinned and waved before receding back to its rightful place, a dark pool under Kyle’s feet.
Kyle told her the shadow’s name, and snorted at her expression, imagining he’d probably looked just as befuddled when Ryka had first provided the same information. “I’ve known him as long as I’ve known Ryka.”
Suddenly, the stiff set of Nina’s shoulders was gone. Intrigue had won out over fear. “How long is that?”
***
Like he had been expecting them, Dove was waiting at the counter of his establishment, forearms resting across the top. “Hi, Nina. And welcome back, Kyle. I take it you’re both here on different business.”
Looking horrified that Dove even had to ask, Nina quickly nodded. “This is from Miranda; a ‘thank you,’ she said.” Their entire walk, Nina had been cradling a bottle of wine in her arms, and now handed it over to Dove. He inspected the label with raised eyebrows and a smile.
“How kind. I could chill it now if you’d like to join me for a glass.” For all the difference it would make to him, Kyle thought. Boiling or freezing, Dove would never be able to tell. But he was good at playing human.
“No, but thank you.” She seemed suddenly wary of the club’s proprietor, and Kyle hoped he hadn’t just somehow blown Dove’s cover. “I should get back to the Temple.” With a slight bow to Kyle, she made her exit.
As soon as she was gone, Dove stepped out from behind the counter. “It’s a pleasure to see you back. But it hasn’t been all that long. Does that mean I’m in trouble after all?”
They had been here considerably less than a year ago - no time at all for beings running on an eternal clock. But Kyle shook his head. “No trouble.” Not for Dove, anyhow. “Back in Purgatory for a break. And here for a room, if you’ve got an opening.”
“Always for you. But you can’t be alone. Where’s your other half?”
“Hopefully on his way.”
“Well, how about we kill this wine while I help you set things up?” Without bothering to wait for a response, Dove absconded with the bottle, calling over his shoulder, “I’ll decant this. You grab what you need and I’ll meet you in the same room as last time.”
“Sounds like a plan.”
***
Kyle hadn’t anticipated sipping wine with Dove being the only plan for his time at “Lust.” But he was starting to think that might be the case when, two hours later, Ryka still hadn’t shown. He was prepared to just give up and go back to the hotel when he sensed Ryka’s presence. Not his gradual approach, but the sudden overwhelming mass of his power. Kyle was used to it, and more surprised that he hadn’t noticed him coming sooner, but Dove sprang to his feet from where he’d been sitting cross-legged on the floor.
“I’ll take all this,” he said, gathering up glasses and wine bottles, “and meet him at the front.”
Kyle watched him go, heard him greeting Ryka, heard Ryka’s footsteps as he made his way down the hall. Then Ryka was poking his head into the room, looking much-ashamed. “Forgive me; I didn’t think that would take so long.”
Kyle wanted to be angry, but Ryka was so genuinely remorseful he found he didn’t have the willpower to stay mad. Not when Ryka was presenting his most pathetically submissive behavior, wings so low and flat that half the membrane was dragging across the floor.
“If I didn’t know better, I’d say you planned it.” Ryka opened his mouth, but Kyle cut him off. “I know you didn’t. But it works out better for you when I’m pissed, doesn’t it?”
A coy nod, and Ryka closed the door behind him as he crept into the room. He sank to his knees at Kyle’s feet. “Yes, Master. It does.”
***
When he had suggested a party, Kyle hadn’t doubted for a moment that Ryka planned to follow through. They needed a diversion. And they had the perfect space for such an event: their opulent penthouse suite, boasting a cavernous sitting room with floor-to-ceiling windows on opposing walls with unobstructed views of Sin City. A hall on the third wall stretched down past half a dozen bedrooms to their master bedroom, and an immense, neon-lit bar took up the fourth wall, a short hall to its right leading to an enclosed, roof-top pool.
Hotel staff had catered to their guests’ every whim in providing food and drink, the latter of which began flowing as soon as the guests began to arrive. Miranda was among the first, with Nina and Eli in tow, but Dove had beat them, and all three gaped at him.
Ankles crossed up on a coffee table, arms across the back of a sofa, with a wine glass dangling from his fingers, he nodded a greeting. But none of them saw it, too focused on the tip of his tail twitching next to his heels. With a casual shrug, he told them, “Secret’s out now.”
It very much looked like Miranda wanted to ask how many more demons might be hiding in plain sight around them, and knowing this, Ryka offered an unsettling smirk. “More than you’d think.”
Before he could harass them further, Kyle handed out beverages, and put Ryka to work mixing more as the rest of their guests trickled in. Or what he’d thought were the rest. All the members of the Temple were present- plus one incubus fielding careful inquiries about his immortality - but the doorbell buzzed again.
“I thought this was everyone.” Kyle headed for the door, catching his partner’s smug smirk as he went. “Should I be worried?”
“I hope not. Surprise.”
And that was indeed Kyle’s reaction to finding a familiar, lanky Reaper with a Southern drawl waiting in the hall. “Hey, y’all. Evenin’.”
“Pike! It’s been a while!” Since he had saved Ryka’s ass, in fact.
“Y’all been busy, I know. Got the message there was a get-together happenin’, though. Lookin’ forward to catchin’ up tonight.” Greetings exchanged, Pike’s gaze settled on Ryka. “Your Highness.” This with a respectful tilt of his head.
“It’s not like that.”
“No? You’re Lucifer’s son. Do you prefer ‘Antichrist?’” Ryka hissed, and the room fell silent, background music fading to nothing. “We all heard about your rematch with Toothpicks.” Pike chuckled a little, but even the mortals could tell it was a nervous laugh. “Heard that fucker didn’t come out of it so well. In fact, heard he didn’t come out of it all. You beat him so hard you broke his soul, somethin’ I thought only Lucifer could do. So forgive me for thinkin’ you deserve something more than a ‘Howdy.’”
The sudden silence in the room made Kyle’s ears ring. There were rapid heartbeats, but no one had taken a breath. They had explained things to Dove, so he was the only one watching this interaction unfold with anything like calm.
“My name’s fine. I owe you, so … let’s not make it awkward. And glad you got the message.” Ryka tossed him a bottled beer, and Pike easily caught it, flicking off the cap with a claw tip.
“I’m surprised His Unholiness was sendin’ you around just to deliver party invitations. I wasn’t exactly in the neighborhood.”
“He wasn’t.”
Everyone else had relaxed - at least a little - so now it was Kyle’s turn for shock. “You went to him without any help? You can …?” The smell of ozone filled the room, along with the feeling of static about to discharge. A few sparks sizzled in his closed fists. No wonder he hadn’t felt Ryka coming the day before. How long had he been hiding his ability to open a passage like Lucifer could?
“I just figured it out. Yesterday.” Ryka threw an arm around Kyle’s shoulder and pulled him close. “I wasn’t trying to hide anything, I promise. I wanted to surprise you.”
Kyle let out a sigh. “We can talk about it later.”
Dove snorted. “Stop by if that doesn’t work.” His comment drew Pike’s attention, who stared at the other demon with his head cocked.
“Where’re your wings, incubus?”
“Same place yours are, Reaper: the scrap heap.” There was no real animosity, and Pike barked out a laugh before moving on to make Miranda’s acquaintance.
With everyone else otherwise occupied socializing, Kyle took his place back by Ryka’s side. “Prince Consort” had been the title Lucifer had thrown at him during a brief conversation before their departure from Hell, and Kyle hated it. Though not as much as he hated Ryka keeping things from him. “Can you go back and forth between here and Hell, then?”
Ryka shrugged. “I haven’t tried. I’m in no hurry to go back. I just wanted to find that asshole.” He nodded to Pike, who was successfully charming the Temple’s High Priestess.
“I don’t like these surprises, Ry.”
“No more. I promise.” Kyle opened his mouth to say he very much hoped so, but Ryka cut him off. “Well, just one.” From where he stood, Ryka willed the door open, to reveal Adam standing on the other side, just raising his hand to press the buzzer.
“Oh. Uh, hi. Everyone.” In the dim lighting of the suite’s main room, Adam glowed, his just-off-white halo brilliant. He waved awkwardly at the Satanists, incubus and Reaper before turning his attention to Ryka. “So, should I bow or kneel or something?” Clearly, he had heard the news.
“I’d love to see you on your knees, big boy. But maybe later. For now, I’ll share.”
“How generous.” That he was somehow even more comfortable teasing Ryka than ever put Kyle at ease. Or maybe that was just his angelic influence; he noticed all their guests were relaxed, especially considering there were several immortals among them.
The Satanists may have learned the truth about Dove, but he was still known to them, and several of the Temple higher-ups were gathered around. Asking polite questions, it sounded like, though Kyle was only half-listening. He was eavesdropping on Pike and Miranda as well, so only half his attention was on the incubus.
“He messes around with mortal women enough to know how not to break them,” Ryka assured him, head also subtly tilted in the pair’s direction. But it swiveled to focus entirely on Adam as he approached the bar. “Want a drink?”
“Yes.” He seemed surprised by his own honesty. “But am I allowed to?”
“How the fuck should I know?”
With a quick glance out the windows to see if any nearby buildings were attracting suspicious lightning strikes, Adam shrugged. “I’ll take a beer.”
***
Just like in their past, one beer had turned into several. And had then turned into mixed drinks. Now, Kyle and Adam were hunched over the coffee table, playing cards and tossing back shots. Adam wasn’t keeping up very well.
“I don’t think I’m supposed to drink,” he stated loudly before continuing to do just that. One of his wings was sagging, and when he tried to put his glass back down, he missed the table by at least six inches.
“Too late for that, I’d say.” Ryka plopped down next to Kyle, scooping up Adam’s accidentally discarded glass as he did. “You want another round?” Adam shook his head, looking woozy. Kyle wondered if Adam was the first angel to ever get drunk. Even if not, he was undoubtedly the first to do so in the company of demons.
Though some of those demons were otherwise occupied. Pike had retired to one of the bedrooms with Miranda, and Dove was reaping the rewards. Not just of Miranda’s lust, but the rest of the coven’s as well. Some, like Eli and Nina, were still awake and enjoying each other’s company, but the rest were asleep, and deeply so, lulled into slumber by the words of a hungry incubus.
He fed on their subconscious desires, blissed out on their bedroom fantasies. On a couch opposite Kyle and Ryka, he lay stretched on his back, hands clasped over his stomach while he fed. Incubus himself to some degree, Ryka too appreciated the meal. Though his gaze was firmly fixed on Kyle.
Not too far gone to realize he was about to become a third wheel, Adam struggled to his feet. “I should go.”
“There’s still a room. You can stay.” Maybe he couldn’t influence another immortal, but Ryka was still persuasive. And also sometimes logical. When Adam attempted to argue, Ryka cut him off. “Probably shouldn’t wander around drunk, big boy. Not a good look on an angel.”
Unable to argue with that reasoning, Adam staggered off to the nearest unoccupied room.
“I’ll see myself out later, if you don’t mind.” Kyle was amazed Dove managed that much - he was sure Dove’d been too busy gorging to be aware of what his fellow immortals were up to.
“Feel free to stay.”
Dove waved them off, which Kyle didn’t waste time trying to interpret. He had other queries to pursue. Knowing Ryka would follow, he made his way to their suite, hearing Ryka padding after him.
Alone in their room, Kyle perched himself on the edge of the bed. Ryka lingered just inside the doorway, looking optimistic.
“Show it to me.”
Happy to oblige, Ryka began stripping off the pants human convention had forced him to don for the event. He was stopped short by the pillow Kyle whipped at his head.
“Not that.”
“What then?” Glad that their luxury accommodations there were plenty of projectiles for Kyle to choose from, he grabbed a particularly gaudy sequined pillow and launched it. “Sorry, sorry.”
“You will be later. But only if you show me. No more hiding things.”
Face contorted in mock concentration, Ryka demonstrated his newfound talent. Just as one did for Lucifer, a misty gray rift swirled open behind him. When he had used one to track down Pike, he had opened it to another location in Purgatory. For Kyle, he made more of an effort.
Dry wind carrying the scent of brimstone and suffering rushed into the room. Kyle stared through the widening portal at the familiar sight of home, the silhouette of their residence amidst the desolation of Hell, with Lucifer’s sprawling place looming not far behind.
“Shit,” he breathed. “Ry, that’s incredible.” It shrunk quickly to nothing, noiselessly fading out as Ryka took a seat next to Kyle. “We could go through that? I mean, you did already, right?”
“I did, yeah. I’d want to test on someone else before letting you try, though. Just in case.”
The sentiment was both sweet and disturbing, but Kyle’s predilection to being charmed by such talk was what had gotten him to his current position. “Who would even be willing to do that?”
***
Barely back in Lucifer’s good graces after his last unsanctioned trip to Purgatory, Val still hadn’t hesitated to go with Ryka when he’d suddenly appeared in the aerie. In fact, he’d all but tossed aside the imps curled up around him - Jinx luckily not among them - and dove through the portal. And directly into Kyle and Ryka’s bed.
Which is how Adam found them the next morning when he confidently walked into the wrong room, not hungover but certainly not at his best. He had done an immediate about-face, but still gotten an eyeful. Learning that Kyle and Ryka enjoyed more than each other’s company had been enough; he certainly hadn’t needed to see them in action.
There was at least some sympathy to be found in the main sitting area, where Pike, Miranda, Nina and Eli were enjoying coffee and snacks from the massive cart hotel staff had just delivered. Maybe angels didn’t need caffeine, but it had been a long time since he’d tasted coffee, and wasting it would be a shame.
Though waste it he did, demonstrating an impressive spit-take when Ryka appeared at the end of the hall. “You could have stayed. If it’s you, big boy, there’s always room for one more.”
Wiping coffee off his chin, as though he could recover his dignity, he replied, “I’m still going to pass.”
“Leave him alone, Ry,” Kyle chided from down the hall. “I think he’s traumatized enough for one day.”
“That was my mistake. One I’m really good at making.”
“Suspiciously good,” Ryka teased. Adam blushed, but Ryka lost interest the moment Kyle was by his side. With a very audible purr, Ryka leaned against his other half. Probably harder than he intended to, as Kyle briefly staggered to the side before regaining his balance. “Sorry, stud.” Gentler now, he curled his wing around Kyle.
Only Pike was brave enough to interrupt the tender moment. “Heard you got Val through.” Ryka nodded. “Brave soul.” Whether Val meant to disobey Lord Satan or act as a guinea pig hardly mattered.
“Mostly just stupid.”
“Who you calling ‘stupid?’” Rightfully indignant, Val tried to shoulder his way between Kyle and Ryka and out into the living room. “Could you maybe get the fuck out of the way?” This as he pushed Kyle’s wing aside, earning him a sharp hiss from Kyle and withering stare from Ryka. “Sorry. Shit, remind me not to come between you two.”
Unable to stop himself, especially since the image was still quite fresh in his mind, Adam quipped “You literally were just doing exactly that.”
Ryka looked quite amused, at least until Val glowered in Adam’s direction and mumbled “Fucking angel.” In less time than it took to blink, Ryka had one hand wrapped around Val’s throat. Snarling, he slammed the other demon into the nearest wall. Val immediately started wheezing apologies. “Sorry, sorry. Please, believe me.”
The mortals looked to Pike, but the Reaper held up his hands and shook his head. Not his fight, his expression clearly said.
“You’re not immune, Val; don’t even think of fucking with Adam. You won’t like the consequences,” Ryka hissed, closing his hand tighter around Val’s throat.
“I know,” Val managed, wings trembling. That seemed enough to satisfy Ryka, and he released the other demon, who slumped briefly to the ground before straightening and shaking out his wings. “I know the rules,” he reiterated.
And then it became quite apparent who truly held the most power in Hell. “Enough, dear.” Ryka’s attention snapped back to Kyle, who was now standing with arms crossed and eyes narrowed.
There was some grumbling, but Ryka relented, taking his turn to quietly apologize to Kyle for the outburst. Val seemed unbothered by their interaction. “Is that water I smell?” he asked, not even noticing the looks he was getting from the mortals in the room. Not in the least because - in the true demonic fashion - he was naked.
“There’s a pool,” Ryka explained, the word “idiot” not said aloud but clearly implied. But Val wouldn’t have been around to hear the insult; he was already dashing for the pool. Which he cannon-balled into, judging by the splash that followed.
“Well, that’ll keep him busy until someone comes for him.”
“You thinkin’ Lord Satan will come to fetch him home?” Pike asked. Even before the name had left his mouth, tension in the room had risen. Adam was frozen with a mug at his lips, looking to Kyle for some kind of reassurance.
Which Kyle didn’t feel confident giving. All he could do was shrug.
Answer enough for the Reaper, who hurriedly finished his coffee. As though he thought the Devil would be putting in an appearance any moment. Kyle didn’t think Val was missed that badly. But Pike wasn’t willing to linger and find out. “It was truly a pleasure. I do hope to see you again,” he told Miranda, bowing deeply to her. He dipped his head to Kyle and Ryka, and made a quick exit.
Adam watched him go. He’d been granted permission to come here, so wouldn’t be caught somewhere he shouldn’t be like the Reaper, but still wasn’t keen on meeting his boss’s counterpart. “I should probably-”
“We’ll see you soon, I’m sure.” Kyle very much understood his desire to leave, and couldn’t blame him. He and Ryka wouldn’t be so lucky, but they didn’t need others to suffer with them. That in mind, he turned his attention to the few remaining Satanists.
“I’m sure we’ll still be here a little longer, so we’ll stop by.”
“Our doors are always open, you know that.” Miranda sounded perfectly pleasant, as always, but fear emanated off her just as much as it did off Nina and Eli.
“We appreciate that.” With little else to say, the last three party-goers took their leave.
Even now, Ryka still disliked it, but he handed Kyle a mug of coffee, prepared just to his tastes. “Bring it to the pool. We should probably make sure Val doesn’t drown.”
“He could drown?” Kyle asked.
“I wouldn’t put it past him.”
“Well, it’ll give us something to do until more company arrives.”
***
Really, there had been no need for everyone to flee as they had. When their dreaded guest made his appearance, it was near midnight. Val had been sent home to face a fate he seemed surprisingly unconcerned about, while Kyle and Ryka waited. And waited.
Kyle had been about to suggest they give up when Lucifer had finally appeared. And not alone.
“Kyle!” Jinx cried, leaping out of Lucifer’s arms and into Kyle’s. Maybe he was getting a bit big for this act, but Kyle crumbled all the same, snuggling the imp close.
“You behaving yourself, brat?” Ryka asked him.
The perfect cherub. Until he smiled, baring a mouthful of very sharp teeth. “Yup! And guess what? We went with Judas to see Styx!”
“Did you have fun?” When Jynx nodded again in response to Ryka’s question, the older demon ruffled his hair. “That’s good. Don’t forget to be a good little monster and listen to your grandpa.”
And here we go, Kyle thought. His breath clouded out before him as he sighed, and he could see ice starting to frost the mirror behind the bar. He may have ruled over the fiery pits of Hell, but when Lord Satan was angry, his wrath sucked the heat from his surroundings.
“That’s enough of that.” His tone was frigid, but Jinx didn’t seem in any way bothered, shrugging as he extricated himself from Kyle’s arms to go and pick at the remains of dinner, sitting on a cart near the bar.
With the imp otherwise occupied, all the focus was now on Ryka. “Learned something new, I see.”
Never breaking eye contact, Ryka grinned. “Yup.”
“So I suppose now you’ll assume you can go where you please whenever you please.”
“Why shouldn’t I?”
“Because there are still rules. And you’re beginning to overstep.”
“That’s on you for making an heir strong enough to rival you.”
“‘Rival?’” Lord Satan returned, eyebrows arched. As though he could deny what Kyle could so easily feel. Whether intentional or not, Ryka was catching up quickly to his creator. With a sigh, he conceded. “There are still rules. And I don’t need Heaven involved.”
“I wasn’t planning on visiting, if that’s what you’re worried about.”
“Wonderful to hear. That’s not the only concern, however. You, Kyle and Jinx going back and forth will be enough to sell, but bringing friends along is-”
“I’m not bringing the Hordes with me.”
Kyle almost wanted to laugh. They sounded very much like an exasperated parent and their boundary-pushing teenager. He’d heard similar conversations many a time. But he didn’t need attention drawn to himself, and schooled his expression.
“I should hope not. But we can discuss this further on your return. Which I now suppose will be on your schedule.”
“We won’t stay long,” Ryka assured him, watching as Jinx stuffed his face with leftover dessert.
Lucifer called for the imp, who hurried over. “Time to go, Jinx.” The air behind him rippled, a gateway back to Hell forming.
“Aren’t you coming, too?”
With Jinx looking so hurt, it was hard for Kyle to tell him “no.” “Soon,” he promised.
It was certainly no accident that they weren’t allowed much more of a “good-bye” than that - their motivation not to linger too long in Purgatory.
Alone again, Kyle slumped against Ryka. That could have gone worse, he supposed. Still …. “You’re something else, you know that?”
“I do. And he made me that way. Blame him.”
“I don’t think he can take all the credit.” He felt more than heard Ryka’s deep chuckle. “Well, grandpa’s got the kid a bit longer. Should we enjoy our break?”
When fire didn’t erupt from the floor and the building didn't crash down around them, Kyle assumed they were safe. For the moment. “Careful.”
“He’s not going to turn around and come back for that. Relax.”
“I guess.” Very few would know better what to expect from the Devil, so there was little use lingering on the subject. Kyle glanced out over the sparkling cityscape around them and a sudden, wild thought occurred to him. “Could we maybe go somewhere else? Like, away from this city?”
Ryka blinked slowly at him, disbelieving. "You want me to abuse my power? Is that what you're saying?"
“Well, I-”
“Finally!” Ryka exclaimed with a toothy grin. “Took you long enough.”
“What?”
“How many times have I offered?”
Kyle remembered those offers, many along the lines of global domination. Even now, not something he desired. But asking this wasn’t so bad, was it? Not when it already sounded like Lord Satan knew Ryka would do as he pleased. “Would it really be okay?”
“Don’t puss out now - you already asked. It’s fine. So, where should we go?”
Not all that long ago, Kyle had thought himself sick of sightseeing, of globetrotting. But this would be different. Better. Side-by-side this time, and maybe with Jinx tagging along in the future. No cramped airplanes and a home to return to. Why waste their chance?
“Well, stud?”
Kyle thought for a moment, trying to remember the places he’d truly enjoyed. And hoping Ryka would have any idea how to get them there. So maybe better to leave the choosing up to him. “Somewhere quiet.”
For all that he disliked others doing it to him, Ryka bowed deeply to Kyle, hinging at the hip and looking up as his hair fell down over his face. “As you wish.”